CJ seeks date for LB elections by May 3

QUETTA: The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Monday directed all the four provincial secretaries local governments to inform the apex court about the date of the next local bodies (LB) elections by May 3.

The chief justice warned that elected governments would land in trouble if they violate the Constitution which also stipulated holding of local bodies polls. The three-member bench of the SC, headed by the chief justice, was hearing the Balochistan law and order case at the SCís Quetta Registry.

The CJ observed that the government is bound to hold the local bodies (LB) elections under the Constitution. “We will not allow any violation of the Constitution,” said the CJ.He noted that whenever the military came to power, it held local bodies elections and warned the government it could face difficulties if the elections were not held. “If anybody approaches the court against not holding the polls, the elected government could go, he remarked.

Earlier, the advocates general of all the four provinces submitted their reports in connection with the conducting of the local bodies polls. After reviewing the reports, the CJ observed that the reports submitted by the Punjab Government for holding polls is not impressive, saying that it does not seem that the polls would be held by 2013.

The CJ reminded that previously, it had been announced that the polls would be held within 90 days and observed that the elections could not be held even after the lapse of 11 years. The CJ issued notice to the election commissioner in connection with the preparation of electoral lists and asked when these would be prepared.

Earlier, hearing the case about the Balochistan law and order situation, the apex court directed the authorities concerned to produce 71 missing people. The CJ directed the Balochistan chief secretary to inquire the whereabouts of themissing people from the agencies concerned. The CJ ordered that the three persons kidnapped from Jinnah Town and Shalkot on April 11 must be presented before the court on May 2, 2012, otherwise all authorities would be in trouble.

The relatives of the missing persons holding photographs of their dear ones were also present outside the Registry.Four persons abducted from Killi Ismail were produced in the court during hearing. The CJ, in his remarks, said that the law and order was yet to improve as an NGO doctor’s body was found besides a lawyer was kidnapped.

He asked for the details relating to how many persons were kidnapped and recovered after April 6. “What message are we sending, when the NGO doctor’s body will be going to Geneva,” CJ said in his remarks. The chief justice asked the advocate general to provide the list of the relatives of the missing persons who appeared before the court within one hour.

Referring to the situation of Quetta city, the CJ said that despite six elected members of the assembly, belonging to Quetta, no development seems in the city. He directed to the Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Dr Umar Babar, who was also present in the apex court, to submit an audit report of the development funds provided to the Quetta MPAs on May 2, the next day of hearing.